In Texas, on April 3rd there was a placement of a wreath or bouquet of flowers by the Clans at the Alamo in San Antonio to commemorate the Scotch-Irish that fell during the Battle of the Alamo about 1836. If you are not familiar with that battle, the ramifications of that battle became the battle cry around Texas and helped lead to their independence from Mexico.

Also, on April 6th (Tartan Day) there will be a ceremony at the San Jacinto Monument in Texas where Santa Anna, the dictator of Mexico was captured and surrendered Texas to Sam Houston. This is the first time the ceremony will be held at San Jacinto. The Clans will also be present there. No floral bouquets will be presented this year, but may be starting next year. The Queen of England has sent a wreath to San Jacinto this year which will be presented! The names of the Scotch Irish will be read, and several have the surnames of people in our Clan including "MacTavish" as I understand! If you are able to attend this event, please contact me. thanks!

Here's some interesting history regarding the Scotch-Irish and the history of early Texas in general:

SCOTTISH TEXAS CONNECTION•Houston, Dallas and Austin are all Scottish names!•Over half of the counties of Texas are named for persons of Scottish ancestry.•Aberdeen Angus cattle were first exported from Scotland into Texas in 1883.•Over 40% of the original “300”Stephen F. Austin colonists were of Scottish ancestry. •There were 30 Scots among those who fought in the Battle of the Alamo. Piper John MacGregorstood on the adobe walls in the midst of the battle to pipe the men on in true Scottish tradition.•Ten men from Scotland financed the building of the state capitolin Austin. In exchange, the state government gave them 150,000 acres which became the famous XIT Ranch. The XIT stands for “Ten in Texas”.•Most of the leaders who battled for Texas’independence were of Scottish ancestry, i.e., Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, James Bowie, David Crockett, Peter J. Bailey, Henry P. Brewster,J.A. Brooks, David Burnet, Mathew Caldwell, Capt. EwenCameron, S.P. Carson and Robert Cochran.•The oldest signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence was Collin McKinney, of Scottish descent. Both the county of Collin and the town of McKinney are named after him.

In addition, the Constitution of Texas was modeled in part after one from Scotland.